Lou Ville

54 year old male, been riding about a year on a 20 year old Trek hybrid. Looking to get a new bike and came here for help. Reviewed the site and not even sure where to post my question Lol. This bike stuff is very confusing. I am a big guy 290lbs. and I ride country roads (very hilly). I ride around 15 miles a trip and would like to occasionally stretch it out. I like the hybrid/comfort/fitness style of bike and was looking for some reccomendations. I have been told I need double wall rims and that is about as far as I have gotten. If you can point me in the right direction I would welcome the help. I have a few dealers 45 miles away carry Trek and Fuji and sorta leaning that way. Budget is around $800.

salreus

someone just asked the same question with a $600 budget. All the same bikes apply, just look at one model up and you are in the $800 range.

https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdale...king-bike.html

sam_cyclist

Trek has the FX line, and for Fuji, their hybrid line is called the "absolutes." Here are 3 models in (actually below) your price range:

7.4 FX - Trek Bicycle

Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | FITNESS | ABSOLUTE 1.3 DISC

Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | FITNESS | ABSOLUTE 1.5


Go for some test rides in those shops out of town and make a morning or afternoon of it. You might find some good deals on '14 or '13 closeouts to boot.

mrv 

See if you can find a used Surly Long Haul Trucker - it's an over built touring bike. You should have a hard time breaking it and the stock wheels.
New they are a cool $1500, sooooo, yea. I understand out of your price range.
Another option is spend a little on an old MTB, then spend the rest on new bits (drive train, new wheels) to hang all over it. If you're ok with 26in wheels.


I've got an old Specialize RockHopper I've made some changes to (racks, fenders, rando bars, bar end shifters) - now it's a TourHopper. And I'm waiting for the ice to clear so I can GET OUT! (bars are not set yet)
Just a thought - but if you've got a new bike-bug, I understand.

Lou Ville

Thanks for the replys. I don't beieve the Trek 7.4 or the Fuji have the double wall rims and that is the one thing, I was told to make sure I got. The 7.2 has the double wall rims, what about the other components. I just want something that holds up well and shifts smoothly as I have been dealing with shifting issues since the summer. Don't really want to get into "rebuilding" a bike, I am having a hard enough time buying one. lol

dr_lha

A Trek 7.4 most certainly has double walled rims.

bassjones

I'd recommend a true road bike, possibly used. A touring model would be great as they typically have easier gears for climbing hills with a fully loaded bike. The road bike drop bars will give you more hand positions as well. A touring bike will normally have overbuilt wheels. Specific models would be Surly Long Haul Trucker, Jamis Aurora, Salsa Vaya, Trek 520. How tall are you and what is your inseam - cycling inseam particularly, if you know it.

RomansFiveEight

I have a Fuji Absolute and love it. I'm not sure what your fitness level is, but something to consider. The higher end Absolute (1.x) use a much better groupset that's more of a Road Bike groupset. That's a positive or a negative, depending on how you look at it! You mentioned your area is hilly, and you're 290 lbs. I'm going to suggest that maybe the Absolute 2.1 is a better choice. Like the 1.3/1.1, it has an 11-32 cassette. BUT, the 2.1 has a 48/38/28 triple crankset, that 28 cog front crank might be really helpful on those hills. If you depend on a very low gear on your Trek now, then you'll be miserable without it on a new bike (until you get fit enough to not need it!). But if your Trek doesn't use a triple, then you won't miss it on a new bike. Just some food for thought. 34-32 is a plenty low gear for most people, but 28-32 is even lower and may really come in handy on a climb (effectively an under drive; pedaling faster than the rear wheels or turning. Lots of mechanical advantage there.)

qclabrat

what's lacking in the current Trek you are riding?

JReade

This. I love new bikes as much as the next guy, and don't let me stop you from spending money, but maybe a few changes on your current bike would suffice. Stretch it out as in... longer rides? Do you needd more help up the hills? You could change the gearing on your current bike and potentially get something that works.

MRT2

Depending on the model, that 20 year old Trek hybrid might be a far superior bike to anything you can get for less than $1,000 these days. A lot of those Trek frames from the early to mid 90s were American made True Temper OS tubing. To get that level of quality these days, you would need to pony up $900 to $1,800 just for the frame!

Even in a worse case scenario where you had to replace the entire drive train from shifters to freewheel and derailleurs, you are talking a few hundred bucks, including labor. Even if you wanted to upgrade to 8 or 9 speeds and therefore, had to replace a wheel, it would still cost you a lot less than buying a new bike. Then you are good to go for another 5 or 10 years.

Don't get me wrong. New shiny bikes are great. An $800 hybrid will be a few lbs lighter than your old Trek. But the old Trek is a better made frame and likely, a more comfortable ride.

MRT2

An example of the cost of an American made True Temper brand frame if you bought a new one today.
Ordering

Bill Kapaun

Which specific TREK model & year do you have?
BikePedia

You may have the bike already.
Maybe a set of new wheels/tires and gearing "upgrade"?
Maybe just skinnier slick tires and a new cassette?

MRT2

Not really rebuilding, just regular maintenance. Shifting problems should be easily remedied. It could be as simple as minor adjustment of the shifter or derailleur, cleaning and relubing the drivetrain, or replacing a worn chain. These are all things you would need to do on a new bike eventually.

Lou Ville

Thanks for all the replys. I typed an extensive reply and was told I was not logged in and lost the post. Will try again later.

Lou Ville

The Fx4 does have double wall rims. That info was worth becoming a member of this site.

Lou Ville

For those asking, I have a Navigator 200 approx 20 years old. Have had it to two shops and it still does not shift correctly. Sometimes it shifts for no apparent reason sometime won't shift. Does not seem to have a problem with lighter riders.

MRT2

Your Navigator is between 8 and 16 years old. According to Bikepedia, they were made from 1999 to 2006. The bad news is, these bikes were nothing special. I thought maybe you had an early to mid 90s 750 multitrack, or even a 730. Those would be frames worth putting some money into. The Navigators were a more entry level bike, and after 2000, were aluminum, so maybe not worth putting a lot of money into it.

Lou Ville

You are right. Probably 2000 model.

Lou Ville

Forgive my ignorance, but my Trek does have 3 gears in front but I have only used two, rarely get in the bottom gear.

Lou Ville

Not comfortable with the road bikes I have tried. Like the more upright position. I am 6'1" 30 inch inseam.

cale

Could you double your budget please? :-)

I'd like to recommend the Diamondback Interval Carbon. Maybe it'll be on sale soon.
Diamondback Interval Carbon Flat Bar Bike - 2015

Lou Ville

I am looking at Trek and Fuji because they are the nearest shops. (45 minutes) Everything else is an hour and a half away.

Lou Ville

Could you ask my wife please? :-)

BigMo59

I know most won't agree with me but the Trek Shift 4 is an upright bike rated to 350#. With upgraded wheels and a larger seat post. List is $709. It does have front suspension but is very stiff and has a lock out. May be worth a look. Good luck with your search! Mo